3/8/23 Auburn Football Articles

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Could Robby Ashford be the SEC's most surprising player in 2023?

Taylor Jones

~2 minutes

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Freshman transfer quarterback Robby Ashford was thrown into the fire in 2022 and made the most of the hand he was dealt.

Filling in for an injured T.J. Finley after Auburn’s loss to Penn State, Ashford ultimately took over the starting quarterback role and passed for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns in his initial college season.

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Heading into 2023, Ashford will need to prove to his new head coach that he is worthy of taking over the starting quarterback spot again. While many are doubtful of his abilities, one national college football analyst has high hopes for Ashford.

Josh Pate, the host of The Late Kick from 247Sports, says that Ashford is a winner and that he will have the chance to showcase that trait this season.

“I happen to think Robby Ashford has winning football inside of him. I don’t know whether it’s seven wins or 10 wins, I think he got the right head coach at the right time. My suspicion is that we will be watching the SEC come November if he’s healthy and say ‘I had no clue Robby Ashford was this good.’ …I think Robby Ashford is going to be a pretty good football player this year. He’s still going to have to prove it.”

Ashford is in a quarterback battle with Holden Geriner and T.J. Finley this spring and will compete with incoming freshman Hank Brown once he arrives on campus this summer. Hugh Freeze’s initial reaction to the quarterback room suggests that Ashford, and every Auburn quarterback, will have an uphill battle this spring.

“I thought our quarterbacks threw some decent balls, at times, and other times where our mechanics were really bad. But I kind of expected that,” Freeze said on the opening day of spring practice on Feb. 27.

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athlonsports.com

 

SEC Football: Spring 2023 Power Rankings

Steven Lassan

9–12 minutes

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Spring practice has already started or will soon for all 14 teams in the SEC for the 2023 college football season. Although it's tough to get an accurate read on teams from practices in the spring, this is the first set of official workouts and provides some insight into rosters, coaching outlooks, transfers or impact freshmen for the upcoming year.

Back-to-back national champion Georgia is the way-too-early team to beat in the spring power rankings for the SEC, with Alabama and LSU headlining the next tier. Tennessee checks in at No. 4, but the rest of the league is clustered together after that spot, as little separates South Carolina, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Texas A&M going into spring ball. Auburn should also show improvement in coach Hugh Freeze's debut.

What are the early storylines to watch and how do the teams stack up in the SEC going into '23? Here are Athlon's top things to watch on both sides of the ball for the conference going into spring practice:

1. Georgia
What to Watch on Offense: The quarterback battle. How does new play-caller Mike Bobo evaluate a competition featuring Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton? 

What to Watch on Defense: This spring is all about development and finding the next wave of stars to replace standouts like lineman Jalen Carter, linebacker Robert Beal and defensive backs Christopher Smith and Kelee Ringo.

Related: Pre-Spring Ranking the SEC Quarterbacks for 2023

2. Alabama
What to Watch on Offense: This spring is the first chance to get a look at Alabama's offense under new play-caller Tommy Rees. The quarterback battle between Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson is among the biggest in college football. The Crimson Tide also need to solidify their offensive line.

What to Watch on Defense: With five returning starters, new coordinator Kevin Steele will be busy breaking in new faces at every level. The secondary is under the biggest spotlight with cornerback Eli Ricks and safeties Brian Branch, Malachi Moore and DeMarcco Hellams off to the NFL.

3. LSU
What to Watch on Offense: Is there a quarterback battle here or will Jayden Daniels easily hold off Garrett Nussmeier? The Tigers suffered through growing pains along the offensive line last season, but this unit should take a step forward with five experienced starters back for '23.

What to Watch on Defense: For the second year in a row, coach Brian Kelly and coordinator Matt House have significant turnover in the secondary to navigate. A couple of talented transfers will help immediately here, but this spring is the first chance to get a look at this group before the second portal window opens in late April.

Related: Projecting Future SEC Opponents in a 9-Game Schedule

4. Tennessee
What to Watch on Offense: Joe Milton's impressive showing in the Orange Bowl boosted his stock going into the spring, but the quarterback battle is still under the spotlight with five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava pushing for snaps. Additionally, right tackle Darnell Wright and a couple of receiving standouts (Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt) must be replaced.

What to Watch on Defense: Can coordinator Tim Banks generate more improvement out of this group? Tennessee took a step forward on defense last year, limiting teams to 22.8 points a game (down from 29.1 in '22). However, linemen LaTrell Bumphus and Byron Young, linebacker Jeremy Banks and safety Trevon Flowers are gone. Improving a leaky pass defense is a must.

5. Ole Miss
What to Watch on Offense: The quarterback battle. Will the spring produce a front-runner in a three-man competition that features returning starter Jaxson Dart and a pair of transfers in Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Walker Howard (LSU)?

What to Watch on Defense: The hire of Pete Golding is one of the SEC's top assistant moves for 2023. This spring is all about Golding getting acclimated with the personnel and implementing his scheme for the fall. With just five starters back, the Rebels will be auditioning new starters at every level, but help is also on the way from the portal. 

6. Arkansas
What to Watch on Offense: The Razorbacks return arguably the SEC's top quarterback in K.J. Jefferson and one of the nation's best running backs in Rocket Sanders. But there's transition elsewhere, as Dan Enos takes over as play-caller, and this unit has big holes to fill along the offensive line and at receiver. 

What to Watch on Defense: How far can new coordinator Travis Williams improve this group in spring ball? Arkansas gave up 30.6 points a game and struggled mightily against the pass in '22. Just four starters are back and a handful of transfers have to step up in key spots this offseason. 

Related: Pre-Spring Ranking the SEC Quarterbacks for 2023

7. South Carolina
What to Watch on Offense: What tweaks will new coordinator Dowell Loggains implement this offseason? The Gamecocks seemed to find their rhythm offensively late in the year and received a boost when quarterback Spencer Rattler and receiver Juice Wells opted to return for '23. But in addition to the change in play-caller, question marks remain along the offensive line and with the depth at running back.

What to Watch on Defense: This spring is all about finding answers at every level with just four returning starters. The Gamecocks are thin on proven edge rushers after Jordan Burch (Oregon) and Gilber Edmond (Florida State) transferred. Two new starters must emerge at linebacker, and the secondary has to replace standout cornerbacks Cam Smith and Darius Rush.

8. Kentucky (Complete Kentucky Spring Preview)
What to Watch on Offense: Changes on offense. Liam Coen returned to Lexington to handle play-calling duties after a year in the NFL, NC State transfer Devin Leary is slated to start at quarterback, and coach Mark Stoops brought in two transfers to bolster a struggling offensive line.

What to Watch on Defense: Each level of the defense suffered some sort of turnover, but the biggest spring question mark has to be at cornerback. Keidron Smith and Carrington Valentine both departed after '22, and Stoops landed a pair of transfers - Jantzen Dunn (Ohio State) and JQ Hardaway (Cincinnati) to push for the starting job.

9. Mississippi State (Complete Mississippi State Spring Preview)
What to Watch on Offense: What does the offense look like under new play-caller Kevin Barbay? Quarterback Will Rogers returns, but Barbay is likely to shift and tweak Mississippi State's scheme a bit from the Air Raid. This spring is all about the first look for this group.

What to Watch on Defense: Can the Bulldogs find the right answers in the secondary? Four starters are gone, including All-American cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

10. Texas A&M
What to Watch on Offense: How far will this offense develop under new play-caller Bobby Petrino? And can Petrino help quarterback Conner Weigman take a big step forward in his development this spring?

What to Watch on Defense: Can the Aggies get this group back on track in '23? After ranking among the SEC's best defenses in '22, this unit allowed 28.1 points a game in league play. Also, the Aggies ranked last in the SEC against the run. Depth in the secondary - especially at cornerback - will be a focal point in spring practice.

Related: College Football's Top Quarterbacks on the Rise for 2023

11. Auburn (Complete Auburn Spring Preview)
What to Watch on Offense: Quarterback Robby Ashford's development under coach Hugh Freeze and coordinator Philip Montgomery is crucial with the second transfer window opening in mid-April. The line is just as big of a concern for Auburn with four new starters, with three transfers expected to win jobs. 

What to Watch on Defense: New coordinator Ron Roberts inherits a solid foundation, especially in the secondary where the Tigers return cornerbacks D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett. How fast can Roberts find replacements for standouts Derick Hall and Colby Wooden up front, along with linebacker Owen Pappoe?

Related: Grading College Football's New Coach Hires for 2023

12. Florida
What to Watch on Offense: Quarterback play should dominate the spring conversation in Gainesville. Will Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz impress and take a clear hold on the job? The Gators are also breaking in four new starters along the line of scrimmage.

What to Watch on Defense: This group is experiencing a significant amount of turnover (just four returning starters), and there's a new coordinator (Austin Armstrong) taking over in '23. Florida allowed 28.8 points a game last year, so this spring is all about finding the right answers under Armstrong to improve in the fall.

13. Missouri
What to Watch on Offense: With Brady Cook sidelined due to shoulder surgery, this spring is an opportunity for new coordinator Kirby Moore to get an extended look at Miami transfer Jake Garcia and redshirt freshman Sam Horn at quarterback. Although three starters are back up front, this unit needs to show massive improvement in '23.

What to Watch on Defense: This group was one of the SEC's biggest surprises last season as it held opponents to 25.2 points a game after allowing 33.8 in '22. Coordinator Blake Baker brings back eight starters, but there are holes to fill up front with the loss of ends Trajan Jeffcoat, Isaiah McGuire and D.J. Coleman.

14. Vanderbilt
What to Watch on Offense: Can quarterback A.J. Swann take a big step forward as the team's full-time starter after a solid freshman debut in '22? The Commodores also need to replace running back Ray Davis and continue to improve the play in the trenches.

What to Watch on Defense: Major improvement is needed here. Vanderbilt has ranked last in the SEC in scoring defense in each of coach Clark Lea's two seasons at the helm.

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247sports.com

 

NFL Combine recap: How former Auburn players tested in Indianapolis

Nathan King

8–10 minutes

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Owen Pappoe not only stood out at the NFL Combine among Auburn's participants, but he was one of the event's top overall performers this year.

The former Tigers linebacker highlighted Auburn's time in Indianapolis last week, where Auburn was represented by six players: Pappoe, Derick Hall, Eku Leota, Colby Wooden, Tank Bigsby and Anders Carlson.

Here's a look at how each player tested among their respective position groups. Note that Leota, nursing a calf strain, and Carlson, who's coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, did not participate in drills but were present for interviews with NFL personnel and media.

(Stacy Revere, Getty)

Measurables

Height: 6-0

Weight: 210

Arms: 32"

Hands: 9 1/2"

Drills

40-yard dash: 4.56 (10th of 15 RBs)

Bench: 21 (3rd of 7 RBs)

Vertical: 32.5" (13th of 17 RBs)

Broad jump: 9'11" (11th of 14 RBs)

3-cone drill: DNP

20-yard shuttle: DNP

10-yard split: 1.54 (11th of 15 RBs)

Scouting report (NFL.com's Lance Zierlein)

"Bigsby is an upright runner with a strong, angular frame. He runs with plus burst and can create yards even when the blocking is insufficient. Bigsby runs with a nice blend of elusiveness and power, and he can quickly process movements of the defense. Fumbling has been a concern in the past, and he might not be much help on third downs or special teams. His size, creativity and quickness could create an opportunity for teams to pair Bigsby with another back to form an effective tandem in a zone-scheme rushing attack."

Prospect grade: 6.20 ("will eventually be average starter)

Strengths

• NFL-ready frame

• Rapidly processes the defensive front

• Able to cut and go instantly when he sees the hole

• Makes sharp, lateral jump-cuts to shift his track

• Creative inside runner who can elude tacklers in tight spots

• Willing and able to keep runs flowing wide to the corner

• Determined short-yardage runner with plus leg drive

• Dismisses arm tackles with force

Weaknesses

• Tries to do too much at times

• Plays with an upright running style

• Will bounce it wide a little too often

• Stiff hands as a pass-catcher

• Offers below average third-down value

• Fumbled four times in 2021, per PFF

(Stacy Revere, Getty)

Measurables

Height: 6-3

Weight: 254

Arms: 34 1/2"

Hands: 10"

40-yard dash: 4.55 (5th of 21 EDGE)

Bench: DNP

Vertical: 33.5" (11th of 24 EDGE)

Broad jump: 10'7" (3rd of 23 EDGE)

3-cone drill: DNP

20-yard shuttle: DNP

10-yard split: 1.59 (2nd of 21 EDGE)

Scouting report (NFL.com's Lance Zierlein)

"Explosive and long, Hall plays with a rugged demeanor and puts his traits to work as an assertive power rusher capable of putting offensive tackles in reverse. He tends to lack consistency when forced to read and react in the run game and his rush approach is predictable with charges down the fairway. However, his jolting initial contact can help him gain positioning and he’s excellent at transitioning from bulldozer to pocket vulture as a sack artist. He is average against the run, exploitable in coverage and in need of a more diversified rush approach, but a true power rush usually translates in the NFL."

Prospect grade: 6.37 ("will eventually be a starter")

Strengths

• Team captain with tremendous character

• Possesses NFL-caliber aggression and toughness

• Length and power for instant press and separation at impact

• Quality burst in pursuit

• Pound-for-pound strength to challenge much bigger players

• Explosive hips jar tackles and create early pocket push

• Freight train to the quarterback once inside the pocket

• Ready to void his rush and scramble with the quarterback

Weaknesses

• Average body control taking on blocks

• Effort level as a run defender is disappointing at times

• Can be robotic and inconsistent reading play development

• Needs to diversify his down-the-middle rush approach

• Hip tightness prevents tight turns at the arc

• Jump-setting tackles can take away rush momentum

• Exploitable if asked to drop into coverage

(Justin Casterline, Getty)

Measurables

Height: 6-4

Weight: 273

Arms: 33 3/4"

Hands: 10 3/8"

40-yard dash: 4.79 (4th of 6 DE)

Bench: 23 (4th of 5 DE)

Vertical: DNP

Broad jump: 9'7" (6th of 7 DE)

3-cone drill: DNP

20-yard shuttle: 4.52 (1st of 1 DE)

10-yard split: 1.68 (4th of 7 DE)

Scouting report (NFL.com's Lance Zierlein)

"Defensive line prospect whose steady weight gain and frame development have allowed him to see the game at a variety of alignments. Wooden is at his most disruptive when attacking from the interior. He has a quick first step to attack gaps and threaten the pocket, but he’s unable to sit down and drop a deep anchor against bullies in the run game. Wooden’s activity level and hand skill are the keys to his current and future success -- they allow him to keep pressure on blockers from snap to whistle. High football character and scheme versatility could make Wooden a Day 2 selection and future starter with above average interior rush potential."

Prospect grade: 6.24 ("will eventually will average starter")

Strengths

• Extremely competitive with excellent work ethic

• Tape is peppered with heavy hands and nimble feet

• Punch extension and spin moves to prevent long block sustains

• Snap quickness to play in a one-gapping front

• Activity level creates opportunities as interior rusher

• Lays into blockers with explosive forward charge as bull rusher

• Hands are skilled and very heavy

• Versatility to play in odd or even fronts with more development

Weaknesses

• More elusive than controlling at the point of attack

• Will need to improve his stack-and-shed technique

• Below average pursuit burst down the line

• Unable to set deep anchors as interior run defender

• Missing desired get-off to rush from outside

• Hip tightness limits playmaking agility inside the pocket

(Stacy Revere, Getty)

Measurables

Height: 6-0

Weight: 225

Arms: 31 3/4"

Hands: 9 1/8"

40-yard dash: 4.39 (1st of 16 LBs)

Bench: 29 (1st of 10 LBs)

Vertical: 35.5" (5th of 16 LBs)

Broad jump: 10'6" (4th of 15 LBs)

3-cone drill: DNP

20-yard shuttle: DNP

10-yard split: 1.52 (1st of 16 LBs)

Scouting report (NFL.com's Lance Zierlein)

"Undersized linebacker with impressive build, good speed and long arms. Despite all of his traits, Pappoe failed to rack up impact production during his time at Auburn due to his lack of instincts and playmaking ability. He struggles to leverage the gaps and take on climbing blockers effectively, so a move to Will linebacker should allow him to play more run-and-chase, which suits him. He doesn’t look like an NFL starter on tape, but third down and special teams potential will give him a shot at a backup role."

Prospect grade: 5.89 ("average backup or special-teamer")

Strengths

• Impressive build with long arms

• Good acceleration to burst and close on the running back

• Plays with leverage and discipline flowing to the ball

• Twitchy lateral spring as tackler

• Drops quickly and finds proper zone depth in coverage

5COMMENTS

• Aware of routes and reads the quarterback's eyes in space

Weaknesses

• Not heavy enough for interior work

• Unable to sufficiently stack and shed blockers

• Lacks play recognition to trigger ahead of climbing blockers

• Has a tendency to sit on second level and wait for the action

• Production near or behind the line is lower than expected

• Very average angles as a tackler

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i have enjoyed saban whining in this one.

 

al.com

 

Joseph Goodman: Is Nick Saban right about rigged SEC?

Published: Mar. 06, 2023, 6:36 a.m.

8–9 minutes

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It’s always a good day down on the Plains and up on Rocky Top when Nick Saban lets everyone know that he’s a little worried about Auburn and Tennessee.

Plans for the biggest changes to the SEC in 30 years are coming within the next 90 days, and news is starting to leak about league commissioner Greg Sankey’s goals for the new schedules. Texas and Oklahoma are joining the SEC in 2024, and the confederacy of cowboys are disrupting the balance of a league that’s already the toughest in the country. For Alabama, that might mean playing one of the more difficult schedules in the SEC every year.

At least that’s what Saban wanted everyone to appreciate when he participated in an interview last week with Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellinger. The league is planning to add an extra conference game to everyone’s schedules, blow up the two-division system and give each team three permanent rivals. Saban let slip that Alabama’s permanent rivals could be Auburn, Tennessee and LSU.

RELATED: Nick Saban takes issue with proposed SEC schedule

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NFL Combine: Which running back ran the fastest on Sunday

Oh, and Saban said it wasn’t fair to Alabama.

Does he have a point? Well, maybe, but in the SEC even scheduling chatter during the offseason can be used as fuel for the roasting of rivals.

Everyone got a good laugh out of Saban’s concerns. After all these years at Alabama, Saban finally lost to Tennessee last season. The Vols’ first victory against Alabama since 2006 came on the final play of the game. Saban’s Alabama teams are 15-1 against Tennessee, but now the Volunteers are too tough? Auburn and LSU have quality coaches again, so suddenly two Tigers per season are too many?

I’m not here to defend Saban. Piling on Alabama’s coach for whining about Alabama’s future schedule is fair game — and plenty of people did it — but maybe some of his gripes about how the league is determining everyone’s fixed opponents are worth closer examination.

I’m not ready to call Saban a whistleblower, but he’s definitely throwing up smoke to let everyone know that there might be a problem in the league office.

Saban’s interview with SI was a classic example of using the media to craft a narrative and project an agenda, and no one can fault Alabama’s coach for advocating for Alabama. Saban doesn’t have a problem with adding an extra SEC game in 2024. He apparently just doesn’t want to play Auburn, Tennessee and LSU every year while the Vols, for example, might be rounding out their fixed opponents with Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

By revealing the league’s potential plans, Alabama’s wise Puppetmaster of the SEC is attempting to spin things in his favor. At this point, it’s not even clear if the league’s new schedules in 2024 will include nine games.

Should they? Maybe not. I’m not convinced, and I don’t think Saban is either. More games is only going to work if the schedules are fair.

The context is important. This is the last season for the SEC’s two-division system. In 2024, the 16-team conference will be one big Wrestlemania. It’s going to be fun for fans, especially with the expanded, 12-team playoff coming, too. Let’s assume that the SEC will want four teams in the playoff every year, one auto bid and three at-large invites. That means one-loss teams in the SEC should be fine. Two loss teams?

Trust me, y’all, there’s still going to be plenty to debate with a 12-team playoff and the regular season will absolutely still matter. Saban knows this already, and that’s why he’s talking out of turn.

For Alabama and Auburn, this new format of fixed opponents could mean the difference between making the playoffs and staying home. Saban contends that Tennessee is a traditional SEC power on the level historically with Auburn and LSU. He’s correct. When it comes to SEC championship, here’s the breakdown per team of current league members: Alabama (29), Georgia (14), Tennessee (13), LSU (12), Florida (eight), Auburn (eight), Ole Miss (six), Kentucky (two) and Mississippi State (one). For those curious, Texas has won 30 conference championships, shared or outright, between the Southwest Conference (27) and the Big 12 (three). Oklahoma claims 50 conference championships, including 14 Big 12 titles since 2000.

Using math because who can dispute math and numbers, the league has cooked up a metric to sell everyone on the new schedules. It’s essentially a power-ranking system of the SEC, plus Texas and Oklahoma, over the last 10 years. How Saban described the league’s analytics made me laugh.

“They said they did a 10-year whatever,” Saban said.

Exactly.

“Look historically over a 25-year history, and the three best teams in the East are Georgia, Tennessee and Florida,” Saban said to SI. “You look historically at 25 years, Alabama, LSU and Auburn are the three best teams in the West. So we’re playing them all.”

To hear Saban tell it, Sankey should just rank every team based on the spending power of NIL collectives.

Should the SEC stick to eight-game conference schedules with everyone playing one permanent rival every season? That’s probably the fairest way to do things, but it’s not the most lucrative and college football, let’s face it, is all about the money. It’s why Texas and Oklahoma are joining the SEC in the first place, right?

Personally, I think the SEC should play 10 conference games a year like in during the pandemic year. I don’t care about the math. Make it happen.

Is Saban’s beef worth considering, though? Perhaps it’s worth considering from the Auburn perspective.

If the SEC makes it a nine-game conference slate, Auburn will presumably play Alabama and Georgia every year. I know fans will want Auburn-Florida to be renewed, but it’s only fair that Auburn plays someone like South Carolina in that third spot. And, besides, in the new scheduling format, Auburn will still be playing Florida every other year. The current two-division model is flawed, so the current thinking goes, because cross-division opponents meet so infrequently.

From 1927 to 2002, Auburn and Florida played every season. Since 2003, the Tigers and Gators have only played four times. With a nine-game schedule and one division, Auburn and Florida can renew the rivalry on a biennial basis. For me, the gap year will make some rivalries even better.

Is Tennessee to Alabama what South Carolina is to Auburn. Not even close. Another thing to consider: Isn’t LSU and Alabama just a “rivalry game” because of Saban? Trading out LSU for Mississippi State would probably be fairer for Alabama, but some things are more important to the SEC than fairness for Alabama, and that’s the TV ratings when Alabama and LSU play every season.

Let’s not ignore the most important metric of all.

I asked the SEC about Saban’s claim and the league offered that it has been working “on format options with our schools for some time now and have shared information along the way as those options have been discussed.” The SEC added that “no decisions have been made, but with the accelerated entry of Oklahoma and Texas” those decisions are expected to be made in the next 90 days. Over in Louisiana, there have been reports that LSU fixed opponents will be Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

Saban’s water cooler complaint is legitimate, but don’t expect the SEC to change anything for Alabama. And if the league does, then all I’m asking is for Sankey to please drop that SEC bombshell any other time than the Friday afternoon before the Final Four.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama

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